Small and brief truce from the most extreme heat

BarcelonaThis night the temperature has dropped. Tropical minimums have been repeated in many places and some torrid ones on the coast - especially in the city of Barcelona -, but they have not shot up as much as the previous morning, which was sleepless. For example, in Portbou they went from a scorching night above 30 ºC to a minimum today of 22 ºC. Yesterday the temperatures had already dropped a little, but the heat was extreme again, with many maximums of 36 to 41 ºC. The thermometer climbed the most in Ponent and l'Alt Empordà, highlighting the 41.9 ºC maximum in Lleida or the 41.7 ºC in Cabanes.

We are leaving behind the peak of the heatwave that has left us with numerous records across the country, both day and night. In fact, yesterday was the eighth day with 40 ºC this year in the city of Lleida, a figure that equals last year's record. Meteocat has also confirmed the new absolute record in Catalonia for minimum temperature in 24 hours: on Wednesday Portbou (Alt Empordà) did not drop below 32.5 ºC all day.

Today the drop in mercury will be more evident, especially in the Ebre, Ponent and northeast regions, and on Saturday the descent will consolidate. We will breathe a little better and the extremes of these days will no longer be reached, but the heatwave will continue, with temperatures clearly above average. However, this respite will have to be taken advantage of, because next week the heatwave will pick up again, and some meteorological models indicate that the thermometers could climb even higher than this week.

Friday: less extreme heat

Temperatures will drop in most regions, both day and night. The most significant decrease will be seen in the northeast, Ponent, and the south of the country. We are coming from very high temperatures and it will continue to be very hot, but not as much as in the last two days. Many highs of 33 to 38°C and sultriness are expected on the coast, although in Ponent and the Ebro interior, 40°C can be reached again locally. Only yellow alerts for intense heat are maintained in parts of the coast and pre-coast of Barcelona and Ponent.

The minimums have dropped in general, but especially in the north of Alt Empordà, after two consecutive scorching nights above 30°C. But overall, many tropical minimums have been repeated throughout the territory, and some torrid ones along the coast. On the other hand, in the valleys of the Pyrenees, the nocturnal mercury has risen, even though the coolness has been maintained there.

All this with sun and new afternoon showers in parts of the Pyrenees, especially the western ones. Some intense storms are not ruled out, as has already happened in recent days. Where it rains, it will cool down suddenly. In the afternoon, the sea breeze will blow moderately from the southeast.

Breather before the new torrid peak

On Saturday, temperatures will still drop, especially along the coast, the pre-coastal areas, and the counties of Girona. If 40°C is reached, it will be isolated in the Ebro valley. Less extreme heat will allow us to breathe a little better, with nights still being restless, especially along the coast and pre-coastal areas. But be careful because next week the heatwave will pick up again.

The atmosphere will once again be suffocating everywhere, with sleepless nights. The temperature could reach 30°C at 1,500 m altitude, which would be extraordinary. This suggests that the extremes reached last Wednesday may be surpassed. A situation that we will have to follow very carefully.

This heatwave could last a total of ten days, and it wouldn't be until the end of next week that it would cool down. However, no significant rainfall situation is in sight that would allow for watering the thirsty forests throughout the country, with only afternoon showers in mountainous areas.